Norma L. Christianson

Norma Lola Mansholt, Schleiffers, Christianson was born January 19, 1927 on a farm three miles east of Downs Kansas in a snowstorm at 4:15am. Her father picked up the doctor in a wagon and brought him to the house to deliver her. Her mother Johanna Helena and father Henry John had six children, Lenard John, Marie Helen, Norma Lola, Kenneth Paul, Lucille Doris, and Bernice Pauline. They lived on the farm until 1943 when they moved the family to Seattle amid World War 2. Their father took a job in the shipyards, and Lenard joined the navy and stationed in Hawaii. The rest of the children were still in school. Norma worked part time to earn money for her education as well as "spending money for clothes, bus fare and entertainment". Her parents decided to return to Kansas in 1945 with the 3 youngest siblings, and Marie and Norma stayed in Seattle to make it on their own, or as Norma would say, "sink or swim". She talked fondly of the math teacher who "bless his heart" told her to go down to the Civil service office, get a job with the government, and she would have security the rest of her life. She was very proud to say that she never had to ask for money or help her entire adult life. She and Marie had a good time in Seattle working and going to school. The war was still going on and there were lots of servicemen to entertain, so the girls from her church would go downtown on Sunday to the USO and play cards, ping pong, sing and visit, sometimes inviting the servicemen to church and also roller skating. Norma and Marie loved to roller skate, a tradition she carried on later into life with her own children.

The day the war ended in 1945, six girls (Marie, Norma, Elaine, Arlene, Pearl and Lenore) all went into downtown Seattle to celebrate, and what a celebration it was. The streets were packed with people and servicemen, and it was a wild place for young girls to be. "If someone picked you up, they would just pass you on to the next person and your feet never touched the ground". In 1946, Norma's sister Marie married, and Norma moved to a boarding house with 5 girls. She lived there for some time before moving to a boarding house on Greeks row by the University of Washington and housed 20 girls. They were surrounded by college students and wild parties in the student housing, but the house she lived in had working girls only, and to get into the house you had to be recommended by someone...."they were very strict".

In 1951, Norma married Harold Sidney Schleiffers. To that marriage they added a daughter Janis Rae in 1955, and another daughter Sheryl Ann in 1958. Harold died in 1976.

In 1977, the first of her 4 grandchildren, Jeffrey, was born (during the Blazer championship). She loved being a grandmother, and always said her grandchildren were the light of her life.

In 1980, Norma married Clarence Christianson, whom she had met at her church "Our Savior" Lutheran church. They had many happy years together, but later divorced. She retired from the government in January of 1982 after many years with the Soil Conservation service and the U.S. Forest service. She proudly recalled that she was the first woman to conduct a timber sale for Mt. Hood national forest.

Her other 3 grandchildren, Michael, Jillian and Joel, were born in 1982 and 1985. Norma was the ultimate Grandmother, and never missed an event that her grandchildren were involved in. She loved them dearly, and they remained close to her until her passing. She was lucky enough to see 4 great grandchildren born, Drew 15, Autzen 10, Ty 22 months, and Adalyn 5 months.

Norma lived the last 7 years of her life at Parkrose Château senior living where she met many new friends and kept busy with the daily activities of the facility. She was a longtime member of Our Savior Lutheran church, now named Faithful Savior Lutheran church, with a church family that transcended over 60 years, including many of her closest friends to this day.

Some family history: Her Grandfather and Grandmother lived during the Civil war. Her Grandmother Arkebauer was the only grandparent Norma knew. Her Grandpa Arkebauer died during the 1918 flu. Her Father was a WW1 veteran, and about the time he was to be sent to France, the war ended. Norma liked to talk about the many things that happened during her lifetime: WW2 stories, President Kennedy's assassination in 1963, the same year her father died, Robert Kennedy assassination in 1968, the same year her mother died, the man on the moon in 1969. She loved to read the paper every day. One of her favorite sayings was: "I get up in the morning and read the obits, and if I don't see my name, I know I'm not dead".

Norma passed on Thursday March 10th with her daughters by her side. She leaves a legacy of love to her family, who are so grateful to God for the 89 years of life he gave her. Her faith was strong, and there is no doubt she is resting peacefully in the loving arms of the Lord.

Norma is survived by her daughters Janis Ferrante and Sheryl Bundy, son-"un"- law Gregg Gisby, grandchildren Jeff Gustafson(Amy Jo), Michael Bundy, Jillian Carlile (Andy) and Joel Bundy, 4 great grandchildren, sister Lucille Blide of St. John, Kansas, and many loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Lenard and Kenneth, sisters Marie and Bernice, husbands Harold and Clarence, and son-in law Donald Ferrante.

A funeral service and reception will be held at Lincoln Memorial, Thursday March 17th at 3pm. There will be a private family burial on Friday. Viewing Wednesday from 4-7pm.

Please feel free to make a donation to the charity of your choice in Norma's honor, or to Sno-Cap charities of east county, an organization that was dear to her heart.